Bomb threats reported at county courthouses across Oregon
PORTLAND, Ore. - 28 county courthouses across Oregon, and a state public services building in Salem, received bomb threats on Monday.
The threats came just four days after multiple bomb threats forced several courthouses in Washington state to evacuate, including in Clark County. There were also similar bomb threats made in Nebraska on Nov. 2.
In this instance, the threats began coming in at around 2:30 p.m. and continued for about an hour, according to the Oregon State Police. 22 of the 28 locations were evacuated while the others were not. No suspicious objects were found. Some of the counties that reported receiving threats here in Oregon:
- Baker County
- Benton County
- Clatsop County - Report from The Daily Astorian
- Crook County
- Curry County
- Deschutes County
- Gilliam County
- Grant County - Report from MyEagleNews.com
- Jackson County
- Jefferson County
- Klamath County - A caller phoned the county government center in Klamath County at 2:37 p.m. and "indicated there were explosives in the basement of the courthouse set to detonate within 25 minutes," said Undersheriff Jeanette Davidson. Both the government center and the courthouse were evacuated as a precaution, but no explosives were found and employees returned to work, she said.
- Lake County
- Lane County
- Lincoln County
- Malheur County
- Marion County
- Morrow County
- Multnomah County
- Polk County
- Sherman County
- Tillamook County - Report from the Tillamook Headlight Herald
- Umatilla County - All clear - no threat found. Call had come in to the courthouse's security department, according to Sgt. John Trumbo with the Umatilla County Sheriff's Office.
- Union County
- Wallowa County - Report from the Wallowa County Chieftan
- Wasco County
- Washington County - Sheriff's office has cleared the Washington County Courthouse. No threat found.
- Wheeler County
- Yamhill County - Report from The Register-Guard
The Oregon Public Service Building in Salem was also evacuated late Monday afternoon after receiving a similar threat. Employees were allowed back in around 4 p.m. The building is across the street from the state Capitol, which was not evacuated. In addition to the State Police headquarters, it houses offices for the Department of Education and the Secretary of State.
It is unknown at this point whether the threats in the three states are connected.
Anyone with information about the threats is asked to contact their local sheriff's department.
Cry wolf game or a desensitizing action? Our public paranoia levels are about maxed out now..... One would think that good security screening before entering the buildings would eliminate the possibility of an actual bomb being brought it. However, the last time I was at the Multnomah court house, I saw that no employees or lawyers there are checked as they enter. Then if we check the recent mass shooting incidences I think we would see that a large percentage of these are done by disgruntled employees. Hence the monicre, "Going Postal"..... Absolute security is possible but no one would ever accept that option. I do hope they catch whomever is responsible for this. In 1971, I got 6 hits from a wooden paddle by the vice-principal of my jr.high school for pulling the fire alarm so as to avoid a math test. That was the last time I ever gave a false alarm!!!!!
Just a guess from an old cop - the Freemen are at it again. The Freemen I dealt with in the olden days did this crap all the time and vowed that they would never disappear. Â
Wasco County had one...The Court House in The Dalles was closed and no bomb was found.
... makes me curious on the purpose. Idiot kids? Someone unhappy about election results?Someone attempting to desensitize so that the real threat will be ignored?
 @starshadow I would state the Latter, I am thinking there testing the system, I get the Government has began tracing, and this non traceable throw away phone thing are traceable.
KATU you might want to adjust your list. Wasco County had received a bomb threat at their court house, evacuated and closed the court house for the day. My family lives there and told me about what was happening
Someone is trying to send a message. I wonder who or what group?Â
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 @PD1202 Wild stab for certain. The radical left wing liberal democrat eco-terrorist anti government types are well known for actual property damage. Window breakage, car and truck arson, illegal marches and protests are the hallmark of the left wing radicals. Right wingers, they complain a lot, but they seldom do physical damage.
@noneofyourbizzness You mean the Murrah Bldg in OKC? That wasn't a courthouse.
 @last boyscout  @PD1202 You have got to be kidding..right?  Here is  some reading for you Mr. boyscout...enjoy.
http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/intelligence-report/browse-all-issues/2010/spring/rage-on-the-right
@last boyscout @PD1202 Actually if I recall,there was a actual courthouse bombing back in the 90's where 168 people were killed and the bomber wasn't exactly a radial left wing democrat.
 @last boyscout bahaha...you're funny. Â
 @PD1202  @peckishpete hmm maybe some one who is angry at there house being foreclosed on.?
The cost to taxpayers was significant. Just a simple phone call has everyone running.
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The bombs that are the ones to worry about are the ones that no one calls in.
 @RalphCramden That's not what the Israelis say. Their current PM says that a bomb threat was called in before the blast at the King David hotel so it wasn't terrorism. Nevermind that the warning came from another group opposing the Irgun, it's now their rationalization.
Baker County Circuit Court Judge Greg Baxter said he was notified that 15 Oregon courthouses were evacuated today. He said bomb threats also were received in these counties: Curry,Jefferson, Crook, Klamath, Clatsop, Wallowa, Umatilla, Morrow, Lane, Jackson, Wasco, Grant, Marion and Union. Bomb threats were received in these eight Washington counties on Nov. 15: Thurston, Chelan, Douglas, Benton, Adams, Clark, Pacific and Columbia counties, according to The Associated Press.
Those buildings also were evacuated and searched. No bombs were found.
Nine Nebraska couthouses received similar bomb threats on Nov. 2, according to The Associated Press.
http://www.bakercityherald.com/Local-News/Courthouse-evacuated-after-bomb-threat A couple hours ago...
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Thank you. Your info is better than the news outlets!